Ohio State AD warns of pending NCAA violations

May 24, 2012|The Sports Xchange

Since Jim Tressel resigned as football coach last May, Ohio State has been charged with 58 NCAA violations. (Getty Photo)

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told the university's student newspaper that the school has 12 violations pending with the NCAA, some of which could be deemed primary and result in major penalties.

“We've got 12 pending,” Smith said. “It may turn out to be secondary, it may not.”

Smith told The Lantern newspaper he's not sure how the NCAA will view the violations, which are in addition to the 46 self-reported secondary violations Smith confirmed less than a week ago.

That puts OSU athletics at a total of 58 violations since last May 30, when coach Jim Tressel resigned.

Smith said the typical range for the department is 40.

“It ranges in that area we're sitting at, in that 40 range is where we always hang,” he said.

With 46 varsity sports, 350 employees and 1,000 athletes -- Smith's numbers -- the size of the athletic department contributes to the violations, the athletic director told The Lantern.

At least 11 OSU teams are cited for multiple violations and 21 of the 36 varsity sports were cited in the early report of 46 secondary violations.